Intro to Judaism - In Person
This is a great class for someone who wants to know more about the Jewish religion, its history, and its culture. It is also a good class for someone considering conversion to Judaism. Check with your sponsoring clergy to determine if this class is a required element of the conversion process.
Time & Location:
Oct 19, 2025, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Beth Shalom and Rodef Shalom
Details:
Unit 1 Begins October 19, 2025
Intro to Judaism (ITJ) is a 25 week course, split into three units, running once a week (with breaks) from Fall through Spring.
The course follows the Miller Program Curriculum, produced by the Maas Center of American Jewish University in Los Angeles, CA. The course book, included in the price of the class, is called 'On One Foot.'
Topics covered include Prayer, The Five Books of Moses, Sex and Marriage, Kashrut (the laws of Jewish dietary obligations), Holocaust, Holidays, Shabbat, Jewish Diversity, Medieval History, Zionism/Israel, and more. Our teachers are comprised of Jewish clergy [rabbis and cantors] from across Pittsburgh.
This is a great class for someone who wants to know more about the Jewish religion, its history, and its culture. It is also a good class for someone considering conversion to Judaism. Check with your sponsoring clergy to determine if the PGH ITJ class is a required element of the conversion process.
The in-person course takes place for half the year at Rodef Shalom Congregation in the Shadyside neighborhood, and half the year at Congregation Beth Shalom in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood.
Students that sign up and pay for Unit 1 are registered for Unit 2 and 3 as well. For students that join after Unit 1 begins, they start in the winter with Unit 2, and will continue with Unit 3, then Unit 1 (after a summer break).
Course registration fee covers all three units and the course book - 'On One Foot'. There's no disadvantage to beginning in the Winter or Spring with Units 2 or 3: you should begin taking the class when it is convenient for you.
For those interested in ITJ but find the cost of the class prohibitive, financial aid is available. To apply fill out the form on ITJ's 'Contact us' page and ask about financial aid.
This course is provided through ITJ Pittsburgh, a program of the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Clergy Association. The GPJCA represents all movements of Judaism: Reform, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, Renewal, non-affiliated, and Conservative.